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Kincheloe
Orrock
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Republican Del. Bobby Orrock got himself a challenger for his 54th district House of Delegates seat last winter, with a comment he said was meant as constructive criticism.
Kimbra Kincheloe, who is running as an independent against Orrock, said she decided to challenge the 18-year incumbent when, at a hearing about several pieces animal-welfare legislation, Orrock remarked on the amount of correspondence his office had received on a particular bill.
Both Orrock and Kincheloe recall that Orrock said that he had received thousands of e-mails and hundreds of phone calls and faxes on the bill--which would have outlawed certain methods of tethering animals.
Both say that Orrock said that correspondence effectively shut down his office.
"I did suggest to them that any time a group in their lobbying efforts effectively shuts down a legislator's office that makes it somewhat difficult to hear your issues as objectively as you want us to," Orrock said.
Kincheloe said Orrock said the e-mails were no way to win his favor.
"That is absolutely not a way for a representative of the people to feel about his people," said Kincheloe, a 49-year-old real estate agent who lives in Spotsylvania County. "You just do not tell the citizens not to communicate with you."
"I thought I was offering constructive remarks," Orrock said. "The issue may have been more that they didn't get the answer they wanted to hear."
The tethering bill, along with another bill that would have outlawed the use of gas chambers in animal shelters, both died in Orrock's subcommittee on Agriculture, the Chesapeake Bay and Natural Resources.
The way it died also troubles Kincheloe. She says she wants to end what she calls the "secret subcommittee" system in Richmond.
Subcommittee meetings are open to the public. However, no minutes are taken, and votes are not recorded, so bills can die in these committees without written record of what happened.
Orrock says this is a matter of keeping government efficient. He said that if votes were recorded, the General Assembly would need more money for more staff members to keep all the records.
Orrock, 51, first won the 54th District seat in 1989. He fended off a primary challenge in 2005 from far-right candidate Shaun Kenney, and last faced a general election opponent in 1995.
Orrock is fond of saying, as he did at a candidates' forum earlier this fall, "I'm Republican in my political philosophy, but I've always felt that representation should be non-partisan."
He said his legislative package is "constituent-driven."
Top issues include getting more funding for volunteer fire and rescue personnel recruitment and retention, finding ways to provide tax relief to strained homeowners and trying to make sure more education dollars make it into the classroom.
Kincheloe said she wants her campaign to be about getting more people involved in and aware of what their government is doing.
"My goal in office will be that the citizens will be more a part of the whole process," she said.
Kincheloe and her mother, Virginia Kincheloe, worked together to found a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Spotsylvania County.
Kincheloe has been to the General Assembly for the past four years to lobby for animal-welfare legislation with Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare, but she says her candidacy is about broader issues.
She said she does not have specific recommendations for transportation solutions now, but would seek out experts to form them.
She also wants more communication between state and local officials, and, like Orrock, wants more school money to make it to the classroom.
Emily Battle: 540/374-5413| NAME: Kimbra Kincheloe
ADDRESS: Spotsylvania County
POLITICAL PARTY: POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None AGE: 49 FAMILY: Single OCCUPATION: Realtor, co-founder of Virginia Kincheloe Spay and Neuter Clinic in Spotsylvania EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in business administration, Virginia Tech, 1980 (cum laude); associate's degree in business administration, Germanna Community College, 1978 (magna cum laude) COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Member, Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors; member, Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce; member, Friends of the Rappahannock; member, Spotswood Baptist Church; member, League of Women Voters HONORS, AWARDS WON: Member of Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honorary society THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: 1. Open government: The health of our government depends on an active and informed citizen. Yet, our political system is currently run by party "insiders" and powerful special-interest groups while the majority of citizens are kept out. Often, the fate of legislation is determined in "secret" subcommittees where votes are not even recorded. Decisions should be made on legislation because it is the right solution for an issue, not because of special interest influence or party politics. I will work to be sure legislators are accountable for their votes and to bring open, responsible, citizen-centered government to Virginia. 2. Education, as Horace Mann said, is the "engine of democracy." A high-quality education is critical for both individual success and the economic and political health of our community, state and nation. Though our students' academic performance is solid, in a world of global competition--and in which 90 percent of the fastest growing jobs will require some post-secondary education--our schools must do more than they have historically done to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed. Teacher quality has the biggest impact on student achievement. We must have teachers who are highly effective, highly motivated and highly paid. An excellent education for every child is my goal for Virginia. 3. Intelligent Transportation Solutions and Smart Growth: Physical mobility remains central in our everyday lives despite the Internet's tendency to make everything "virtual." Virginia must take the initiative to shape the transportation system of the future by ensuring dedicated funding sources that will support growing public transit networks--like rapid buses and light rail lines. We should not continue to invest disproportionately in roadways, but instead incorporate Smart Growth practices that reduce the need for car travel. Rather than allowing development to overwhelm our communities, I will promote citizen involvement and collaboration of stakeholders to guide growth and preserve our region's natural beauty. NAME: Bobby Orrock ADDRESS: Caroline CountyPOLITICAL PARTY: Republican POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Has held 54th House of Delegates seat since 1990. AGE: 51 (turns 52 on Nov. 13) FAMILY: Widowed, three grown children OCCUPATION: Agriculture teacher at Spotsylvania High School; part-time radio announcer at WFLS EDUCATION: Ladysmith High School, 1974; Germanna Community College, 1975-76; bachelor's degree, Virginia Tech, 1978; master's degree, Virginia State University, 1986 COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: EMT, Ladysmith Volunteer Rescue Squad, 1972-present; trustee, Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, 2000-present; Spotsylvania Lions Club, 1992-present; Moss Free Clinic Board, 2004- HONORS, AWARDS WON: Teacher of the Year, Tri-County Soil and Water Conservation District, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983; Outstanding Educator, Virginia State Dairymen's Association, 1983; Outstanding Educator, Virginia Farm and Home Electrification Council, 1987; Legislator of the Year, Virginia Vocational Association, 1992; Outstanding Young Virginian, Virginia Jaycees, 1994; distinguished service, Fredericksburg Jaycees, 1994; public service, Fredericksburg Area Builders Association, 1994; legislator of the year, Virginia Animal Control Association, 2004 THREE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE: 2. Transportation: adequate funding to address critical road-building needs, mass transit, and telecommuting. An adequate road system 3. Health care: Ensure availability of health care services, medical and mental, to all of those in our community during their time of need. We must recognize that we need more services for our most vulnerable; the disabled, the elderly, and the uninsured. |
